I guess I should start by apologizing to her the best way I can, but I cannot get over how beautiful she is.
"Alethea, I know this is the last thing to ever have been on your mind, but do you ever see us together in the future.?" I cannot help but ask.
This way I know where I stand in her life and then work towards it. I was not kidding when I said that I want to be in her life.
"Uhm honestly Jacob, I don't see myself being with a guy like you and---" she stated saying.
"Excuse me. What do you mean by -a guy like me-??" I can't help but ask.
She shrugged and looked away from me into the wilderness. I placed my hand under a chin and turned her head slowly to face me.
"What did you mean by that Alethea?" I all but beg to her so I know how she sees me. What kind of a person does she see me in?
As soon as her eyes matched mine, I can see confusion and uncertainty swarming in them. 'What are you afraid of?' I mentally asked
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Jacob, I just dont have time to be in a relationship, I dont have time to fall in love with someone and be with someone. I'm too busy with the twins and help settling JJ back into our lives. I don't have time to be anything that you would want from me" she explained looking everywhere but avoiding my eyes.
"I dont want anything else just you. I want you to be happy, I want you to try this. Us. It could be something." I explained
"But what if we just end up hurting each other? What if you're wrong about this? About us?" she asked.
"And what if we don't end up hurting each other? What if we didn't end up hurt each other? What if we end up being the most happiest, we have ever been?" I argued.
"You don't know that" she butted in
"And you do?" I asked.
We both looked at each other with confusion present on her face and determination on mine. We both laughed and I went in for a hug.
I held her in my arms savoring the moment cos I don't know when I will get this moment again.
"I won't be able to have time for this all the time Jacob Stephano" she whispered out enough for me to hear.
"You won't need to Alethea, I got this. I got us." I reassured her
"My siblings will always come first" she said.
I am sure that she is giving me reasons to not give us a chance but I know for a fact that those reasons are just excuses from her end.
"And I will make it my mission to put you first" I replied.
She gasped in shock and left my arms to look at my face scanning for a sense of joke. Her lips in a tight line as she continued to scan my face.
"I will do everything I can that we work out, because I really do mean it when I said that I want you and I want to be in your life." I continued.
With that I finished with a kiss on her forehead.
"Now that we have done all that, do we have something in the bag because I am starving." I said trying not to seem so embarrassed as my stomach started growling.
She laughed and took my hand leading us back to where we left our stuffs. She took out another 'sulu' of hers and placed it flat on the ground and started putting food on it.
Sandwiches, juice and some fruits.
I couldn't help myself and proceeded to eat earning myself a slap on the hand that was reaching out to grab a piece of the sandwich.
"Ow what was that for?" I ask incredulously to which she just laughed.
"We haven't prayed for the food yet" she replied.
"Ohh but the food..." I mumbled out trying to reach for it again.
"The food will be there, we just have to say a quick prayer and then we can eat. It'll only take a few minutes, seconds even." she gestured with her hands in a prayer motion.
"Thank you Lord for the day,
Thank you for your love, guidance and your protection.
Thank you for always looking out for us and for lovely company.
Bless the food in front of us as we are about to receive.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen" she finished.
I couldn't help myself, as soon as Alethea ended the prayer my hand dashed forward to grab the sandwich and I started munching and drinking juice.
"Someone is hungry" she mused and started munching on a piece of sandwich as well.
After she has eaten a good portion of food, she grabbed the map and started looking at it.
"Ok so we are here........" she continued mumbling while pointing the map and then directing her finger over the trail which we lost a few minutes back.
"So if we head that way" she pointed the left side of her and continued
"We should be back on track, of course after a few minutes of walking and then we'll head right and then take sharp left we'd find our way back to the beach from there and be able to join the others" she finished with a proud look on her face.
She glanced up and a puzzled look took over her face 'what are you staring at?' she asked me quizzically.
"I'm looking at you. Is that so bad?" I shrugged and continued looking at her.
I can tell that it's making her a little uncomfortable, but I can't help it. How do you stop looking a beautiful angel when she is literally right in front of you? I asked myself.
I love how her smile is so real when she's happy about something. I love how her eyebrows furrow together when she's focusing on something. I love how her nose scrunches up when she doesn't like something but pretends to just so people around her are satisfied. I love how she's selfless and always puts her last when it comes to her family. It says a lot about the kind of person she is. She is just naturally like that. She may not be born like that, but her experiences have led her to become like that and she's not even complaining, in fact she welcomes it with open arms.
"So Uhm, if we leave now, we can get back to the others in no time at the beach." she continued as she started packing up the containers and the rest of the stuffs.
"Right...uhmmm yeah. We should uhh.... get going" I said and helped her pack up.
After we had packed, and we took a picture together in her camera and of the small waterfall creek where we had been, and she started off first. I looked around one last time and savor the memory of what happened here in my head.
This is where we laid out all our cards and where our story will begin. It had begun already for me but officially .......it'll be here. I know I should've told her about the deal between me and my father but that's for another time.
Speaking of my father, my mind instantly went back to when he had called me a few days ago.
'I heard you are in pursuit of a woman?' my father asked with a hint of playfulness in his voice.
'How did you find out about that?' I asked already guarded and a little bit annoyed that this old man seems to know everything when it comes to my personal life.
'I am your father, I know. So, when can your mother and I meet this lovely young woman?' he proceeded to ask.
'Never, father please. I am still trying to get her to go out with me. I am not exactly in her good graces at the moment' I replied sadly but more determined than ever.
'Ahhh yes, the frisbee incident. Trust me your cousin Hazel told me all about it.' he commented with a hearty laugh.
'Arghhh Hazel told you?!!' I questioned now more annoyed than ever.
'Trust me son, she tells us everything including the fact that you stood her up because you forgot you had a date and was busy with work' he continued teasing me.
'Jacob Stephano Stone?!!' I heard a voice I know all too well when it comes to manners and good behavior.
'I know damn well; I taught you better than that.' my mother bellows from over the phone. No doubt in anger and disappointment present in her face.
'Mother, I did not mean to. And I am trying everything I can to have her forgiveness. Trust me its proving to be much harder than I thought.' I said in my defense which just made the situation even worse especially with my mother. My father on the other hand, seems to be enjoying this a lot.
'The Jacob Stephano Stone groveling to get a woman's forgiveness? Now that, is a sight to see.' my mother teases.
'She must be one hell of a woman then' I heard my mother whispered.
'Trust me she is' I said lowly.